Zhenyu Yang is a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the College of Engineering through the Department of Civil Engineering and the Urban Transport Systems Laboratory (LUTS) . He holds a PhD in Industrial System Engineering from the National University of Singapore (2022), an M.Eng from Beijing Jiaotong University, and a Diploma in Transportation Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. PhD, Industrial System Engineering, National University of Singapore (2022) M.Eng, Beijing Jiaotong University Diploma, Transportation Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology His research focuses on urban transportation network modeling , travel demand management , and traffic information provision , with a strong emphasis on handling uncertainty and optimizing shared mobility systems. Recent work explores reinforcement learning applications, vehicle-drone cooperative delivery , and dynamic incident-responsive traffic systems . His publications highlight advancements in ridesourcing algorithms , congestion pricing , and multi-modal transport regulation . As a lecturer, he teaches Transportation Economics , covering demand-supply dynamics, welfare analysis, and environmental policy in transport systems. He is affiliated with EPFL's Urban Transport Systems Laboratory (LUTS) and contributes to the SGC-ENS teaching unit.
David R. Liu is the Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences at Harvard University and the Richard Merkin Professor at the Broad Institute. He serves as a principal investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and director of the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare. His laboratory pioneers revolutionary genome editing technologies with profound implications for basic research and therapeutic development. Liu's research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of chemistry and biology: Organic Chemistry Chemical Biology Biochemistry Genetic Engineering Genome Editing Technologies He pioneered base editing and prime editing techniques that enable precise DNA modifications without creating double-stranded breaks, overcoming key limitations of traditional CRISPR-Cas9 systems. His work on DNA-templated synthesis and phage-assisted continuous evolution (PACE) has transformed protein engineering and drug discovery approaches. Liu's contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: ACS Award in Pure Chemistry (2006) Election to National Academy of Medicine (2020) Election to National Academy of Sciences (2021) King Faisal Prize (2022) Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2025) As an entrepreneur, Liu has co-founded multiple biotechnology companies including Editas Medicine, Beam Therapeutics, and Prime Medicine to translate his discoveries into therapeutic applications. His laboratory continues to advance genome editing technologies while developing novel approaches to treat genetic diseases through precise DNA modifications.
Jaimejuan Mar Cabeza is a Senior University Lecturer at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, and the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). She leads the Global Change and Conservation Lab and serves as a supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences and the Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology. University of Helsinki: Senior University Lecturer Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) Global Change and Conservation Lab (Principal Investigator) Dr. Cabeza's research focuses on ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science with particular emphasis on human-wildlife conflicts, climate change impacts on biodiversity, and sustainable pastoral systems. Her work spans multiple continents with significant field research in Madagascar and Kenya. She employs interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological, social, and cultural dimensions of conservation. Her recent publications reveal strong trends in bat ecology and pest suppression services, human-carnivore coexistence, and the role of traditional ecological knowledge in conservation. The research demonstrates increasing integration of social science perspectives with ecological studies, particularly examining how cultural practices and governance systems affect conservation outcomes. Best International Teacher (2010) Commendation for good thesis supervision (2009, 2011) Best Talk, Student Conference on Conservation Science (2000) Dr. Cabeza actively supervises 4 PhD students and 3 MSc students, with a strong commitment to education at multiple levels from school children to advanced doctoral candidates. She coordinates the RESPECT field course in Madagascar and has developed novel pedagogical approaches for conservation education. Her research is supported by multiple active projects including 'Thinking like an elephant' (2025-2028), 'Conservation trade-offs' (2024-present), and 'Pastoralism as a global herbivory socio-ecosystem' (2023-2026). She leads the Global Change and Conservation Lab, which brings together researchers from diverse disciplines to address complex conservation challenges at the intersection of ecology, social science, and policy. The lab maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with institutions in Africa where much of their field research takes place.
Eleni Stai is an Assistant Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), affiliated with the Division of Communication, Electronic and Information Engineering. She holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Applied Mathematical Sciences from NTUA and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her academic credentials include: Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA (2009) B.Sc. in Mathematics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2013) M.Sc. in Applied Mathematical Sciences, NTUA (2014) Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, NTUA (2015) Dr. Stai's research integrates advanced optimization techniques with communications networks and energy systems. She develops stochastic and deterministic optimization frameworks for network resource allocation, data analytics on complex topologies, and smart-grid control applications. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations in energy-harvesting networks, network slicing, and reinforcement learning for distributed systems. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant research thrusts in AI-driven network management (particularly O-RAN and network slicing), energy-integrated communications, and optimization of energy communities. A significant portion of her work addresses the convergence of 5G/6G networking with power systems, emphasizing real-time control and sustainability. Her scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards: Chorafas Foundation Best Ph.D. Thesis award Thomaidis Foundation Best M.Sc. Thesis award Best Paper Award at ICT 2016 Best Presenter Award at IEEE ENERGYCON 2022 Dr. Stai serves on technical program committees for major international conferences and has co-authored the book "Evolutionary Dynamics of Complex Communications Networks". She teaches undergraduate courses in Queuing Systems, Computer Networks, and Social Network Analysis, reflecting her expertise in network theory and applications. Her research trajectory demonstrates continuous evolution from fundamental network optimization to AI-enhanced solutions for next-generation communication-energy systems. Her work builds upon her postdoctoral experience at EPFL (2016-2020) and ETH Zurich (2020-2023), where she developed advanced frameworks for communications networks and energy systems.
Professor Elaine Chase serves as Professor of Education, Wellbeing and International Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE), specifically within the Education, Practice & Society department. With extensive experience bridging academic research and practical application, she previously worked as a health promotion specialist in the UK and served as a youth health programme advisor with Namibia's Ministry of Youth and Sport for several years. Her research focuses on the sociological dimensions of health, wellbeing and rights for marginalized individuals and communities, examining the critical interface between policy, practice and context through qualitative and mixed-method studies conducted internationally. Her work spans diverse vulnerable populations including young parents, youth in public care, young people accessing sexual and reproductive health services across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and MENA regions, HIV/AIDS-affected families, children living in poverty, and unaccompanied children seeking asylum across Europe. Professor Chase currently leads multiple significant research initiatives: the Life Facing Deportation project examining immigration policies' impacts on children and families; the RELIEF project promoting transformative education in displacement contexts; the Children Caring on the Move project investigating separated child migrants; the Becoming Adult project exploring wellbeing outcomes for unaccompanied migrant youth transitioning to adulthood; the LOHST project studying pandemic impacts on unaccompanied migrant youth's service access; and the Connecting during COVID-19 project examining care and remittance practices among UK migrant communities. She also contributes to the London International Development Centre - Migration Leadership Team funded by ESRC and AHRC. Life Facing Deportation: Immigration policy impacts on vulnerable families RELIEF: Transformative education in displacement contexts Children Caring on the Move: Separated child migrants' care experiences Becoming Adult: Wellbeing outcomes as unaccompanied youth transition to adulthood LOHST: Pandemic impacts on unaccompanied migrant youth's service access Connecting during COVID-19: Care and remittance practices among UK migrant communities Poverty, Shame and Social Exclusion: Comparative research on poverty's social impacts Her teaching responsibilities include the MA Education, Health Promotion and International Development program, coordination of the Dissertation with Integrated Research Teaching (DwIRT) module, and co-leadership of the Education, Migration and Development module with Amy North. She actively supervises multiple doctoral students conducting research in related fields. Professor Chase's recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong emphasis on education in conflict-affected contexts (particularly Myanmar), migration studies, wellbeing research, and pandemic impacts on vulnerable populations. Her work consistently addresses policy-practice-context interfaces and employs participatory, trauma-informed methodologies appropriate for working with marginalized communities across multiple continents.
Steven Ray, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at University at Buffalo, is an interdisciplinary researcher with dual contributions to analytical chemistry and social psychology. His work bridges advanced instrumentation development with foundational studies on relationship dynamics and cognitive security mechanisms. Recognized as Fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and Royal Society of Chemistry NSF-funded investigator advancing microwave-controlled mass spectrometry techniques Applies computational and psychosocial models to understand trust and risk regulation Ray's scientific work focuses on analytical chemistry innovations, including microwave-enhanced ionization , plasma spectrochemistry , and metallomics . His team developed novel distance-of-flight mass spectrometry methods and distributed 12,500 eclipse glasses for STEM outreach. Psychosocial research reveals recurring themes of relationship risk regulation , self-esteem dynamics , and trust mechanisms across 15+ years of publications. His work demonstrates how automatic partner attitudes and attachment theories shape interpersonal cognition. Scientific Recognition Lester Strock Medal (2014) Society for Applied Spectroscopy Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow
Aleksandra Krstić is a full professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade, where she teaches courses including Political Journalism , Visual Representation of Politics , and Media and Journalism in a Global Context . She serves as Vice-Dean for Research Activities and leads the Center for Media and Media Research. PhD in Culture and Media (2015) from University of Belgrade Master's and BA in Journalism from Faculty of Political Science Her research examines media representation of EU institutions , authoritarian communication , digital journalism ethics , and migrant portrayal in Serbian media . Recent work analyzes visual security narratives , presidential communication strategies , and opinion dynamics in social media . Scientific awards include the Đoko Vlajković Foundation Award (2018) and multiple European integration media awards. She leads international projects like DepolarisingEU (COST Action 22165) and Strengthening Local Media in Serbia (US Alumni Grant). Krstić collaborates with institutions including International Organization for Migration (IOM) and European Commission, and serves on editorial boards for Journal of Regional Security and Political Perspectives .
Adilson Motter is the Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Physics and Astronomy and (by courtesy) Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University. He serves as Director of the Center for Network Dynamics (CND) and has been a faculty member since March 2006. His academic appointments include affiliations with the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP), Molecular Biophysics Program, NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB), Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, Graduate Program in Applied Physics, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE), and Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO). Professor Motter received his Ph.D. in 2002 from UNICAMP (University of Campinas), Brazil, where he worked with Professor Patricio S. Letelier. Prior to joining Northwestern, he held positions as Guest Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Germany and as Director's Funded Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Nonlinear Studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Professor Motter's research focuses on the dynamical behavior and control of complex systems and networks. His work spans theoretical and computational approaches to understanding phenomena in physical, biological, and engineered systems. Key research areas include: Cascading dynamics and network resilience Spontaneous synchronization and symmetry phenomena Network control theory and applications Quantum networks and information transfer Machine learning applications to network science Data-driven discovery in complex systems Applications to quantitative biology, biomedical research, renewable energy, smart power grids, microfluidics, and metamaterials Analysis of Professor Motter's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning physics, engineering, biology, and computer science. His work demonstrates consistent innovation in network science, with recent contributions advancing quantum networking architectures, understanding power grid limitations for electric vehicle integration, developing machine learning approaches for genetic analysis, and exploring fundamental synchronization phenomena. A notable trend is the increasing application of his theoretical frameworks to real-world challenges in energy systems, biomedical research, and quantum information technology. Professor Motter has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2009) Weinberg Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research (2009) Northwestern-Argonne Early Career Investigator Award for Energy Research (2010) NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2011) Erdös-Rényi Prize in Network Science (2013) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2013) Simons Foundation Fellowship in Theoretical Physics (2015) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2015) Scialog Fellow (2015) Outstanding Referee, American Physical Society (2016) Fellow of the Network Science Society (2020) Senior Scientific Award, Complex Systems Society (2022) Professor Motter has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentoring, as evidenced by the Weinberg Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research. His research group has received significant funding through multiple NSF grants, including his CAREER award, and collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory. Current research directions include mechanical metamaterial networks, quantum network science, and other areas of complex systems. The group has been actively recruiting postdoctoral researchers and has seen students recognized with awards and research grants. As Director of the Center for Network Dynamics (established September 2023), Professor Motter leads a multidisciplinary team exploring network phenomena across various domains. The Center has hosted significant events including the 'Brain Architecture and Computing 2024' workshop and is organizing the 2025 CDC Workshop on Neurocomputation and Dynamics in Rio de Janeiro. The Motter Group maintains active collaborations with experimentalists and researchers from diverse disciplines, facilitating the translation of theoretical insights into practical applications.
Carl-Mikael Zetterling is a Professor and Head of Department at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden, affiliated with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (ICT) and the Electronics and Embedded Systems department. His research focuses on process technology and device design for high-temperature, high-power silicon carbide (SiC) electronics, expanding into SiC-based analog and integrated circuits. He has authored over 300 publications, including books on SiC process technology and plagiarism prevention. Dr. Zetterling has held leadership roles such as Vice Dean of the School of ICT (2013–2017) and teacher representative on KTH's faculty board. He has collaborated internationally at Stanford University, Kyoto University, and Kyoto Institute of Technology. His work addresses applications in extreme environments, including Venus exploration and fusion reactor monitoring, with a focus on radiation tolerance and thermal resilience. The 15 most recent publications highlight trends in wide bandgap semiconductors, gamma irradiation effects on SiC devices, and high-temperature integrated circuits. His articles span structural health monitoring with machine learning, novel SiC diode designs, and radiation-hardened electronics. Key contributions include advancements in self-aligned contacts, trench MOSFETs, and compact modeling for extreme conditions. While no formal awards are listed, his roles in technical program committees (TMS Electronic Materials Conference, IEEE SISC Conference) and editorial work demonstrate significant academic service. He teaches courses ranging from digital design to high-temperature electronics, overseeing degree projects in embedded systems, communication, and nanotechnology.
Bo Markussen is a Professor at the University of Copenhagen within the Department of Mathematical Sciences . He is also a member of the Data Science Laboratory , where he contributes to statistical methodology and interdisciplinary collaborations. His academic journey began with a Cand.Scient (MSc) and PhD in Statistics from the University of Copenhagen, awarded in 1998 and 2002 respectively. 2012–present: Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen 2009–2012: Associate Professor, Department of Basic Sciences and Environment, University of Copenhagen 2006–2009: Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Sciences and Environment, University of Copenhagen Bo Markussen's research focuses on applied statistics , particularly in functional data analysis and multiple testing corrections in genetics . His work spans diverse domains including environmental science, agriculture, and public health. Recent research output highlights applications in Arctic climate data analysis, fire risk modeling, plant stress phenotyping, and nutritional biomarker prediction. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward machine learning integration with statistical modeling , addressing challenges in high-dimensional data analysis and environmental risk assessment. Collaborations span institutions in Denmark and internationally, reflecting his engagement in pan-Arctic climate studies and tropical agricultural research. 2018–present: Associate Editor, Scandinavian Journal of Statistics 2017–2019: Chair, Danish Society for Theoretical Statistics 2015–2017: Board Member, Danish Society for Theoretical Statistics As a central figure in the Data Science Laboratory , Markussen leads statistical consultancy initiatives and contributes to methodological advancements. His expertise bridges theoretical statistics with real-world applications, particularly in handling complex datasets across biological and environmental domains.
Annuska Derks is an Associate Professor in Social Anthropology at the University of Zurich, where she holds the Chair of Social Transformation Processes. She earned her M.A. in Social-Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies, followed by a Ph.D. from Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands. Education: M.A. in Social-Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies, Ph.D. in Anthropology Her research focuses on social change, mobility, and inequality in Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. She explores development through material culture and commodity chains, examining how everyday objects like spices and coal briquettes reflect and shape societal transformations. Current projects include Aspirations for Change 4.0 (renewable energy in Vietnam) and Spice Chains (global markets for Vietnamese star anise and cinnamon). She collaborates with institutions in Switzerland, Vietnam, and Canada, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Derks has supervised doctoral researchers across multiple universities and co-led transnational projects on migration, gender, and commodity chains. Her team includes postdoctoral and doctoral researchers specializing in Southeast Asia and transnational entanglements.
Yue Li is the Leonard Case Jr. Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He specializes in resilient and sustainable infrastructure systems, focusing on structural reliability, probabilistic design, and climate change adaptation. His research addresses risk assessment for infrastructure under extreme events, including earthquakes, hurricanes, and climate impacts. Education: PhD in Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005 Research Interests: Dr. Li’s work integrates advanced statistical methods and data-driven approaches to enhance infrastructure resilience. Key areas include: Probabilistic modeling of structural systems Risk-informed decision-making for multi-hazard mitigation Climate change impacts on material durability and performance Asset management and lifecycle cost analysis Notable Contributions: His recent publications emphasize data-driven resilience metrics for water systems and seismic risk assessment for bridges. He has pioneered frameworks for evaluating infrastructure vulnerability under climate change, including corrosion effects and extreme weather adaptation. Awards: ABSE Outstanding Paper Award (2023) Case School of Engineering Teaching Award (2020) Nomination for John S. Diekhoff Award (2019) Leadership Roles: Dr. Li serves as Section Editor for the ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering and chairs multiple technical committees on safety and reliability. He leads initiatives to standardize multi-hazard design practices and resilience evaluation methodologies.
Golfo Alexopoulos is a Professor and Director of the USF Institute for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies at the University of South Florida's School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. from Yale University. Her research focuses on Soviet and Russian authoritarianism, Stalinist systems, political violence, and human rights, with a particular emphasis on disinformation and medical exploitation in the Stalinist Gulag. A key work is Illness and Inhumanity in Stalin’s Gulag (2017), examining prisoner dehumanization through archival health records. Teaching spans contemporary Russian politics, comparative authoritarianism, and the Soviet Union. She integrates multimedia and personal experiences, including slides from her time in the USSR during Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin eras. Her advising has supported students entering academia, diplomacy, and international law. Her research also explores Stalin’s disenfranchisement policies and Soviet citizenship through petitions discovered in Siberian archives. Current work links 20th-century Soviet authoritarianism to modern Russian disinformation strategies. She directs the USF Institute for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship on global political systems.
Sebastien Nicolas Gros is a Professor at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research focuses on safe reinforcement learning (RL) and data-driven model predictive control (MPC), with applications in energy systems, biomedical engineering, and autonomous vehicles. Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department: Engineering Cybernetics His work emphasizes AI-driven optimization for domestic energy storage, battery integration, and smart building management. Collaborations include Equinor, DNV, Kongsberg, Volvo, and CorPower Ocean. Key themes in his publications include: Control theory for renewable energy systems (wave energy converters, buildings) Biomedical applications (artificial pancreas, glucose monitoring) Transportation systems (electric vehicles, autonomous ships) Machine learning integration with physical models He supervises 6 PhD students and co-supervises projects on multi-rotor wind turbines and industrial PhD collaborations. The articles demonstrate a convergence of RL, MPC, and uncertainty quantification across energy, biomedical, and transportation domains.
Professor Pauleen Bennett is a leading scholar in Anthrozoology at La Trobe University's Bendigo campus, serving in the Department of Psychology, Counseling and Therapy within the College of Science, Health and Engineering since 2018. Her research program centers on human-companion animal relationships, particularly focusing on the psychological dimensions of human-dog bonds, veterinary wellbeing, and child-pet interactions. Her research interests span Anthrozoology , Human-Animal Relationships , and Companion Animal Psychology , with particular emphasis on dog behavior, veterinary burnout, and the therapeutic applications of human-animal bonds. Bennett leads the Anthrozoology Research Group (www.anthrozoologyresearchgroup.com) and has made significant contributions to understanding how animals impact human mental health across diverse contexts from farms to universities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) human-animal relationship measurement tools development, (2) veterinary workplace wellbeing challenges, and (3) practical applications of human-animal bonds in agricultural, educational, and healthcare settings. Her work consistently bridges theoretical psychology with practical animal welfare applications. Bennett previously served as Associate Editor for Anthrozoos and on the board of the International Society for Anthrozoology. She co-supervises higher degree students across multiple Australian universities and maintains active community engagement through the Anthrozoology Research Group. Her funded research includes the Wildlife Victoria Inc Mental Health and Wellbeing Review (2021-2024), which developed recommended good practice guidelines for wildlife volunteer support programs. Bennett also serves as a consultant on human-animal interaction projects, translating academic research into practical community applications. Bennett maintains a productive research laboratory focused on human-animal interactions, with current projects examining puppy socialization practices, veterinary technician burnout, and the psychological benefits of animal-assisted interventions in university settings. Her Bendigo-based laboratory operates in close collaboration with Australian farms, veterinary clinics, and community organizations.
